Watermelon Margaritas

I'm always looking for a reason to make a good cocktail or eat a juicy watermelon. Nothing quite says summer like mixing the two together.

Most recipes I've seen tried to make this too complicated, but who has time to do that when all they really want is a drink? Let's get this summer started. 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1 - 1.5 shot of tequila
2 c. watermelon, diced
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. simple syrup (optional)
Lime

First things first, salt your rim. I always use a lime slice instead of water to give it even more flavor.

Pro tip: don't fall for "margarita salt." Instead, grab some coarse kosher sea salt and save your bucks for something else.

I think the right amount of watermelon per drink is about 3 small triangles. Dice them in small chunks. Side note: still obsessed with these discontinued Anthropologie plates.

Rose's sweetened lime juice is the perfect amount of sweet for this cocktail. I don't think it needs any additional sugar, but add simple syrup to your taste. Lime, however, is necessary. Slice off a large slice to squeeze in to your drink.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the diced watermelon, tequila, lime juice and some ice. Then...

shake, shake, shake!

Pour into a mason jar and cheers to summah!

Let me know if you like what you sip!

Love is the closest thing we have to magic.

Keep your magic alive. 

Snapped at Paris on Ponce in Atlanta, Georgia. 

21.

21 was not my favorite year. Not a bad year, overall, but it was my least favorite thus far.

It was not as good as carefree times at 19. USC. First taste of puppy love. My first apartment. An internship that introduced me to a lot of people that helped me get to where I am today. A taste of adulthood without the responsibility.

21 was a year sprinkled - no, soaked - with change. Living in Barcelona,  returning to the states a single woman, graduating, getting hired by an awesome company, living in Portland, living in Portland with questionable roommates, moving to Atlanta...I could keep going.

But, here's what I learned throughout this year.

It's okay to not be okay.

Communication is key.
Ditch the passive aggressive act. 

Some guys people are just assholes.
Not everyone. Learn from how others hurt people and vow to never do it. 

Stay in touch with friends.

Work hard, play harder.

Love you. Do you.
Others will inevitably let you down from your high expectations of them. Set those expectations for yourself, and exceed them.

Move it, move it.
Your pants are shrinking. 

There's only so much you can do to get someone to give you what you deserve.
Realize the point where you have to realize they will never come around and forget about it. 

Always be the bigger person.
Don't speak in anger, hurt or frustration. It won't solve anything.

It always pays off to be nice to everyone you meet.
Everyone.

Talk is cheap when you use your words negatively.

Tomorrow is another day and chance to be a better person.
Always work towards that. 

Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
Hurry and understand that!

The only person you can control is yourself.

Adulthood is hard and it sucks.

Adulthood is hard and it's awesome.

You'll never be able to please everyone.
And that's fine. 

Saying "no" to things is a lot better than saying "yes" and doing something half-heartedly.

Moving to a new place is exhausting, a little lonely but extremely rewarding.

People on the internet are cruel and love to hide behind a computer screen.
Working in social media, I see a lot of things that make me lose faith in humanity. 



So, 22, I welcome you with open arms. Please be good to me.



[Edit: this post should've been pubished in July 2014. So far 22 has been just as Taylor Swift meant it to be. More on that later ;)]